ELECTION JUDGES: In the polling place, the election judges are responsible for the proper conduct of the election. They serve as officers of the Circuit Court and swear or affirm to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois.
(Download the “2024 Precinct Election Manual”, this is the guide for Election Judges, under the “Election Guides” dropdown menu here.)
Qualifications
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Be of good repute and character and not subject to the registration requirement of the Sex Offender Registration Act.
• Be able to speak, read, and write the English language.
• Be skilled in the four fundamental rules of mathematics.
• Be of good understanding and capable to administer their duties.
• Not be a candidate for any office in the election and not be elected committeeperson.
• Reside in and be entitled to vote in the precinct where selected to serve as judge.
Note: In each precinct one judge of each party may be appointed from outside the precinct, but from within the county. (10 ILCS 5/13-4, 14-1)
Students may serve as Election Judges. Qualifications for Student Judges:
• Live in the County in which they serve;
• Be a Junior or Senior;
• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be able to read, write, and speak English;
• Successfully complete the training program;
• Be able to work on Election Day beginning at 5 a.m. until all duties are completed after the polls close;
• Have the written approval of the student judge’s parent or legal guardian;
• Have written approval from the student judge’s school principal;
• Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale; and
• Meet any other qualifications set by law.
Duties of all Election Judges:
• To open and close the polls.
• To be responsible for all election materials.
• To ensure that only qualified voters are permitted to vote and that each qualified voter is permitted to vote once.
• To ensure that all votes are cast in secret.
• To give instructions in the method of voting when requested by a voter.
• To give assistance to voters who cannot read or write the English language and voters with disabilities.
• To maintain order in the polling place throughout the day.
• To tally the vote after the polls are closed and to certify the election results in that precinct.
(10 ILCS 5/13-4(a))
POLLWATCHERS: Candidates, political parties, qualified organizations of citizens, state nonpartisan civic organizations, and organized groups of proponents for and opponents to a proposition on the ballot may appoint pollwatchers. Pollwatchers may be present to observe the conduct of the election before the polls open, during voting hours, and after the polls close. A reasonable number of pollwatchers are also allowed in the central counting location. Pollwatchers may view the vote by mail, early voting, and grace period registration and voting tabulation processes as well as the counting or remaking of provisional ballots at the discretion of the election authority; however, at least one representative of each established political party and authorized agents of the SBE shall be permitted to observe this process at all times. All pollwatchers shall be permitted to view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the election, provided they do not touch or handle any of the election materials and the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged. (10 ILCS 5/7-34, 17-23, 18-6, 19-10, 20-10)
Qualifications
• Registered voter in Illinois.
• Must have valid pollwatcher credentials issued to them by the election authority or the SBE.
• Must have separate pollwatcher credentials for each precinct they enter.
• If they are a candidate pollwatcher, they must have candidate credentials issued to them by the election authority or SBE.
(10 ILCS 5/7-34, 17-23)
(Download the “Pollwatchers Guide”, under the “Election Guides” dropdown menu here.)